Radius rod for automobiles



M. w. LINK. I RADIUS ROD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY'5 I9I9.

1,335,513, v Patented Mar. 30,1920.

. 31W nA/yr'qso w! LINK 01 m QJw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANFRED LINK, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

RADIUS -ROD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed May 5, 1919.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MANrnsn WV. LINK, a citizen of the United States,and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, State of\Vashington, have invented certain new and useful improvements inRadius-Rods for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to radius rods for automobiles, or devices whichare intended to connect the axles with members of the frame in suchcases where the frame is supported from the axle by springs.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for connecting axlesand chassis of the automobiles in such a way as to give a better supportand prevent rocking of the springs transversely of their length. Thefeatures of my invention which l deem to be new and upon which I desirepatent protec tion will be hereinafter set forth and then nirticularlydefined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown my invention embodied in atype of construction which I now prefer to use.

Figure l is a side view of a portion of an automobile chassis showing afront axle with spring, and the manner of connecting these parts by theuse of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same parts.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one of the side bars of the chassisshowing the manner of attaching my device thereto.

In the drawing, 1 represents a side bar of an automobile chassis, and 2an axle, the same herein representing a front axle. It is common incertain makes of cars to employ a spring 3 which is of the elliptic orsemielliptic type, to support the front end of the chassis from thefront axle. \Vhen this is done a radius rod or rods are necessary toproperly connect the chassis with the front axle, as the spring is notadapted for sustaining strains which are exerted transversely thereof,as would be the case when the front axle is driven through the chassis.

l have found that the type of radius bar which is quite commonlyemployed in certain makes of cars, and whi h V shaped, does not connectthese parts will sufficient rigidity. l have. llltlfiftlll}, devised thepresent bar which may be used; either in conjunction with. or nsubstitution for the said ha r.

I provide an arm, as 4, which I clamp or Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

Serial No. 294,997.

secure in any suitable manner to the side bar of the chassis. Thisextends downward a. short distance and has an eye 40 in its lower end,through which passes one end of the radius bar 5. This radius bar Iprefer to secure in place with reference to the arm 4, in such a mannerthat it may yield slightly from front to rear.

The manner in which I prefer to do this, and which I have found to bevery suitable, is to employ springs 6 surrounding the radius bar at eachside of the arm 4, and to employ stops, such for instance as the nuts(it), upon the rod. whereby the springs 6 may be placed under whatevertension it is found desirable or necessary to give them. In this mannerthe radius rod 5 may be held with considerable firmness, and yet so thatit may yield under a heavy thrust.

The other end of the radius rod 5 is sevured to the axle in any suitablemanner, as for instance by the use of bolts 20 which pass through theaxle 2. The manner of securing this to the axle is, however, immaterial.

Along with the radius rod 5, I employ a supplementary rod 7. One end ofthis is secured to the lower side of the axle, the rod 5 being securedto the upper side of the axle. The rod 7 may be secured to the axle bythe same bolt as is employed for securing the rod 5, or by any othersuitable means. The other end of the rod 7 is secured to the main radiusrod 5, preferably in such a manner that there may be a. littleadjustment secured lengthwise of the rods.

As illustrated, a block or arm 8 is secured to the rod 5 and has an eye80, through which the end of the rod 7 passes. This end of the rod isthreaded and nuts 70 screwing thereon are clamped against the face ofthe eye 80. By proper adjustment of these nuts, the relative position ofthe rods 5 and 7 may be adjusted a limited amount. In this manner therods may be adjusted so as to insure that the axle 2 will be heldagainst rocking about its longitudinal axis.

Two of these radius rods are provided, one at each side of the car, eachsecured to its respective side bar of the chassis. I have found thatsuch a radius red as this firmly holds the front axle and prevents sideracking of the supporting spring 3. By its use it is possible. to adjustthe length of the radius rod so as to secure whatever position may benecessary in order to secure a true vertical movement between the partsof the chassis and axle which are connected by the s ring. B adjustmentof the short rod 7 re ative to t e rod 5, the true vertical position ofthe axle may be secured. This type of radius rod holds the axle firmlyagainst the unusual shocks which may occur in runnin into holes oragainst curbs and the like. have found that this radius rod, when used,makes it unnecessary to retain the old t pe of bars.

What l claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a radius rod, of means for securing one end tothe side bar of the chassis, means for securing the other end of the rodto one side of the axle, a su plemental rod secured to the opposite si eof the axle, and means for securing said rods to ether intermediate theend connections 0 the main rod.

2. The combination with a radius rod for an automobile, of an arm andmeans for securing it to a side bar of the chassis, said arm extendingdownward and having an eye in its lower end, the radius rod having oneend passing through said eye, a spring surrounding said rod at each sideof the eye, stops for said springs on the rod, a supplemental rod havingone end secured to an intermediate part of the radius rod and extendingtoward the other end of the main rod and spaced a art therefrom, andmeans for securing sai rods to the axle at respectively top and bottomthereof.

3. The combination with a radius rod for automobiles of means forsupportin one end of the rod to a side bar of the c assis inwardly fromits axle, an arm secured to the middle part of said rod and having aneye, a supplemental rod havin one end passing through said eye, atljusting nuts threaded on this end of the supplemental rod at oppositesides of the eye, and means for securing said rods to the axle atrespectively top and bottom sides thereof.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 28th day of April, 1919.

MANFRED W. LINK.

